Amazon Prime joins Netflix, Neon and Lightbox in NZ TV streaming war

Want to watch The Grand Tour? Here's how.

The streaming TV battle is getting even hotter as Amazon Prime Video launches in New Zealand - but it lands with one massive show.

The American streaming service today launched Amazon Prime Video in 200 countries, joining the fiece streaming TV market in New Zealand that also includes Netflix, Lightbox and Neon.

It's no minor player. Amazon's launch titles include The Grand Tour, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May's new car show after their controversial exit from Top Gear.

It also includes award-winning comedies Transparent and Mozart in the Jungle.

Amazon Prime Video's slate of shows includes Jeremy Clarkson's hyped return to TV, The Grand Tour.

Amazon Prime Video is also much cheaper than other services, with an opening special of US$2.99 a month for the first six months.

Amazon also promises a number of original shows will land in the New Year, including Woody Allen's Crisis in Six Scenes, David E Kelley's Goliath and New Zealand-shot series American Playboy: The Hugh Hefner Story.

Other shows available on the service include The Man in the High Castle, and children's series like Creative Galaxy, Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street, Tumble Leaf and Wishenpoof. "Hundreds" of movies are also available for streaming.

"We are excited to announce that starting today, fans around the world have access to Prime Video," said Tim Leslie, Prime Video's international vice president.

"... What's really exciting is that we are just getting started."

Amazon Prime Video launches in New Zealand today.

The service is available through apps, smart TVs, and at Primevideo.com.